John k



J. K. SIMPSON.

Electrical Torch.

Patented Oct. 8, i867.

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@uitrit gisten geteilt @ffice JOHN K. SIMPS-N, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.

` Letters Patent No. 69,715, dated October 8, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN BLEGTBIOAL TORGHES.

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Be it known that I, JOHN K. SIMPSON, of New York, in the county and State of New York,.have invented a new and useful Electrical Torch for lighting gas and I d o hereby declare that the following-is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the construction and operation of the same, lreference being had to the annexed drawings, making part o`f this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure I represents an outside view of my improved electrical torch. v

Figure IIA is an enlarged view in section showing the construction of the electrophorus.

Figure III represents the upper end of the torchI in section at an enlarged scale.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction of a torch having at the lower end an electrophorus, and at its upper end a perforated cup, provided with`a suitable nipple or burner, and to which asmall wire is attached projecting a little distance above the burner, opposite to which the end of' the insulated wire connected with the electrophorus is arranged, so that a spark being produced the gas passing through the perforated cup or burner will be'ignited.

In the accompanying` drawing, A represents the handle', made of wood, around the upper part of which a metal tube, B, is placed, outside of which a hard-rubber tube, C, is arranged. Near the upper end of this tube C asm'all metalplate, D, is inserted`,"dush 'with its surface, and connected by a rod, a,withA the metal tube B.

To theslower end of this-metal tube B a rod, m, is attached,` passing into the' lower part-o:` the wooden handle A. and communicating with the outer surface of said handle, by being connected to the metallic ring E, or its equivalentl Around partof the rubber tube C 'a metallic plate, F, is bent, or a piece of wood covered with tinA foil may be used, and attachedto'a lever, G, turning `on a centre, fast to the handle A, and so arranged that the plate F may be lifted up or moved away from the surface of rubber tube. A spring, S, arranged between the handle A and the end of the lever G, presses the metal plate F against the surface of the rubber tube The metal plate D is so arranged that when the surfaces of plate F and of the tube C' toucheach other, said plate F will come in contact with this plato D, forming thereby', through said plate D, rod a, tube B, rod m, and metal ring E, in connection with the hand having hold of 'the handle A, a communication with the earth, pre" venting' thereby the necessity of touching the plate F each time with the nger after the same has given a spark. Above thehandle A and the above-described clectrophprus, a wire, J, is attached, perfectly insulated. The lower end of this wire I extends outside ofthe insulated part, and is provided with a metal ball, L, ati'ts end,'arranged in`suoh a position that when the metal plate F is moved away from the electrophoru's, the upper end of said plate F will come in contact, or nearly so, with this ball L, to receive the spark given out by the edge of the plate F. Oli-,the upper end of the insulation K of this conducting-wired', a perforated cup, N, is attached, provided with a suitable nipple or burner, O. To this burner awire, w', is attached, so arranged" that its extreme point is brought over the summit near the centre of the burner. The end of tbe insulated wire .I is brought opposite the .end of this wire w, near to the cen'tre ofthe burner 0. Instead of making the electrophorns ot' hard rubberfas here described, any other known material answering the same purpose may be used.

The operation of this torch is as follows: The ele'ctrophorus beinghwell dried, by wiping the same wltha piece of silk, or any other cloth, the lifting up ofthe plate F from the surface of the electrophorus C will cause a spark tobe produced, which is passed to the ball L. Gn the burner tobe lighted the gas sturned on, and the perforated cup N placed over said burner, whereby the gas will escape through the perforations in the cup N and through the nipplev O. The moment this cup N touches the burner to be lighted, `a connection through the said burner will be established with` the earth,'and which will cause the spark communicated to the ball L, which 'acts as a recipient for the electric fluid, to pass from the endof the wire J to the wire 1v, igniting in its passage the Vgas escaping through the cup N- and nipple O.

It will be readily understood that while with all former attempts of iguiting xlas by electricity some altera tions were required to be made on the burner, orsome peculiarly constructed bracket or burner had to be used, arranged with wires or chains communicating-with the electrical machine, or tov which the spark of an electro* phorus was communicated, by the use of ,this improved Atorch any burner may be ignited indepcndentof its construction, and without any prior alteration to adapt it for this purpose.

What I claim as my'invcntion, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The herein-described electrophorus, consisting of the hard-rubber tube'C, the metallic plate F, and the metallic tube B, connected through the plate D and rod a with the outer surface of therubbcr tube C, and through the rod m and ring E, or-its equivalent, with the outer surface of the handle A, arranged und operating as set forth.

2. I claim the perforated cup N, provided witha suitable nipple, O, and nninsulated wire w, attached to said nipple, arranged in the manner and for the purpose described.

3. I claim the combination of an electrophorus situated near the lower end of a torch, the perforated cup N at the upper end of said torch, and the insulated conducting-wire J between the electrophorus afnd the'perforated cup, so arranged as to receive the spark or sparks fromthe electrophorus and conduct the same opposite to the end of the uninsulated wire 'w situated above the nipple 0 of the perforated cup N, the whole being arranged and operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as set forth and describelh JOHN K. SIMPSON.

Witnesses:

HENRY E. Rennen, WM. D. HANNON. 

